Great things to do in Edinburgh

The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh is not only one of Scotland’s most popular destinations but also the UK’s. It has long been a favorite destination for both British travelers but also those from further afield.

We love Edinburgh we have visited on several occasions and have absolutely loved it every time. If you haven’t yet been you really are missing out. We highly recommend you add it to your list of must visit places.

Why you may be asking well, there are loads of reasons, below are a few we think are absolute must things to do when you visit Edinburgh.

5 absolute must do’s in Edinburgh

Like we said there are numerous reasons to visit Scotland’s capital, which ever reason makes you go. Make sure you don’t miss out by experiencing the below whilst you are there.

1 – Visit the Castle

One of the UK’s premier tourist attractions Edinburgh Castle has long been the symbol of the city, and is without a doubt the number 1 thing to see when there. If you don’t fit this in to your trip then can you really say you’ve been to the city?

Visible from almost all over the city the castle sits proudly atop an extinct volcano, and offers it’s visitors unrivaled vies across the capital.

2 – The Scottish National Gallery

Located right in the center of the city, at the bottom of Princes street the National Gallery of Scotland is a real treasure and will appeal to both serious art lovers and casual appreciators as well.

Whether your into modern art, classic’s or impressionism you will love a visit to the Gallery. Inside you will fond works of art from masters such as Raphael, Velázquez and Vermeer to Monet, Cézanne and Van Gogh. Being the Scottish National Gallery you will also find the best collection dedicated to Scottish art, including works by well known artists such as Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and McTaggart.

Entrance is free and this is a great way to spend a few hours and especially great when the Scottish Weather is particularly bleak.

3 – Whiskey tasting

When people hear of Scotland one of the first things they associate with it us Whiskey, by far the best whiskey in the world it is consumed all over the world.

Whiskey is akin to a religion in Scotland, they are rightly extremely proud of their national drink. Experiencing it here can take many forms.

Self guided tour around the city’s bars and get to know the bartender. They will gladly converse and educate you about the drink and it’s history

A guided tour of the best bars in Edinburgh – This is an organized tour offering you a chance to visit the most popular Whiskey bars in the city. With a knowledgeable guide who can advise on different tipples as well the history of each brand. We prefer small group tours, so you can a more personal experience.

A trip out of the city to one of the distilleries in the Southern Highlands, this is the ultimate experience for those that have the time to take a full day away from the city. Tours usually last a full day, and you’ll learn all about process of making the best whiskey, as long as plenty of tasting opportunities.

4 – The Festival – The fringe

Famous the world over the Edinburgh Festival (officially known as the Fringe Festival) is on the bucket list of many people, and if you do get the chance to visit the festival you will be on for a real treat.

We don’t really have the time or space to do the festival justice on this post, but highly recommend you check out the official website and start there.

One thing we must stress this is one of the most popular events in the world it is extremely busy year on year and hotels/guesthouse can be booked over a year in advance. You need to plan well ahead if you want to go, and you can do a spur of the moment trip to The Fringe Festival.

5 – Try the local cuisine

Scottish cuisine is not often though of when thinking of the best foods in the world, but you’d be surprised by it’s quality. It is important to highlight we are not referring to the fabled “deep fried chocolate bar” here. No there is so much more to the food scene here.

Scotland produces some of the best Seafood in Europe and second only to whisky is the countries biggest export. It’s Lobsters, Clams, and langoustine’s grace the tables of some of the best restaurants in the world. Let’s not forget the Salmon truly amazing.

But what we are talking about is “haggis” the countries national dish. You really have to try some when in Scotland.

If you are planning a trip to Scotland then Edinburgh has to be on your list, and there are a few must do things to do in the city. It’s such a vibrant happening place you will not be disappointed.